Post Match Warriors v Knights - [Round 8, 2025]

[Wah's Up]

The question really
Is
What hold does Marata have over the coach
AW just keeps on picking him

His first few games for us he was dynamite, the bullshit call against him for a high shot and subsequent suspension seemed to affect him and then after coming back from injury he has never quite got back to his former form.
In saying that, he is a big boy and very intimidating (Enforcer type) to the opposition.
I just think he needs to stay as a prop, wherein there lies a problem as he will never be in the same class as JFH but I would still have him in my team.

 

[Roadrunner]

I agree with alot of you on the thread
that Clark is one of the best buys so far.He just always performs like a Sherman tank glad to have you on board mate.Tuaupiki goes the same one of those energizer battery guys just never stops.I used to wonder why Ford was here but he's going awesome.Our defense is going well lots to look forward to and positive in the nxt few weeks.Right time to put another poster up on my wall just kidding.Keep that throttle wide open boys.

 

[kos]

I agree with alot of you on the thread
that Clark is one of the best buys so far.He just always performs like a Sherman tank glad to have you on board mate.Tuaupiki goes the same one of those energizer battery guys just never stops.I used to wonder why Ford was here but he's going awesome.Our defense is going well lots to look forward to and positive in the nxt few weeks.Right time to put another poster up on my wall just kidding.Keep that throttle wide open boys.

The thing about Erin
He was leaving the Titans
But Des picked him right up to the end of season
He played that same energy effort bollocking style in every Titans game

He’s built for rugby league

And has an amazing motor

 

[tyrael]

View attachment 12690

Roccoberry

A bit of berry juice never hurt anyone.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Webby has acknowledged that Marata's future is not at 2nd row. He has given Leka time to settle in, and now the spot is his and Labans. I'm struggling to see the favouritism.

I'd imagine that Marata holds the prop position over Bunty when JFH returns. I am okay with that.

 

[Boats n Hoes]

I didn’t see Leka’s as a shepherd
He was running through but the defender put his hands out and literally pushed him so that he came to a halt which caused the obstruction
I would have called it that the defender initiated the contact

Tbh i thought that was clear cut as it gets......even Leka knew he got it wrong.....u saw him throw his hands to head as soon as it happened.

Didnt matter Best initiated contact, Leka ran that outside shoulder line which prevented Best moving laterally and once contact did happen was always going to be pulled up.

 

[Gods_17]

I Really like the red numbers with the black and white outline/s. It stands out, looks sharp and it suits

 

[Jaffa J]

It'll be interesting what happens with Niukore once JFH returns I like the idea of him as an impact prop with Demetric but Ford deserves his spot

 

[Boats n Hoes]

Flat boring scrappy game but we got the 2 win.
Great game from Capewell again he's winding back the clock,
With Egan, Clark, and Ford tonight had superior effort.

With the attributes of the roster we've got i would say when u see its a boring scrappy game unfolding......thats a great thing for us, Thats where we need to live, u know we're on the right track.We're not a side thats going to blow teams off the park.

Been critical of Capewell as well this year (deserved imo) but without doubt his best effort of the year.

 

[tyrael]

It'll be interesting what happens with Niukore once JFH returns I like the idea of him as an impact prop with Demetric but Ford deserves his spot

Most likely Laban drops off.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Our for and against record compared with the other top sides is abysmal. Our position on the ladder is also enhanced by having taken the bye over other teams who haven't. (eg Raiders, Broncos and Sharks)

Sounds like you didn't get any from the Mrs this morning either Kav?!

Come on man, yes we have a poor for and against but we're also one of 5 teams that are 5-2 or better, and on top of that most of the teams we've played were sitting in the top 8 last week but have just dropped out.

Enjoy it mate!

 

[roguei]

It'll be interesting what happens with Niukore once JFH returns I like the idea of him as an impact prop with Demetric but Ford deserves his spot

Assuming we keep with no hooker on the bench. I think it'll be:

8. JFH
9. Egan
10. Barney
11. Capes
12. Leka
13. Clark
14. Niukore
15. Ford
16. Demetric
17. Laban

If we end up going with a hooker then I think Laban will drop. But having 3 kids go into full grade like this (4 if you count Ali). Is amazing.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

Come on man, yes we have a poor for and against but we're also one of 5 teams that are 5-2 or better, and on top of that most of the teams we've played were sitting in the top 8 last week but have just dropped out.

If we keep winning, we keep grinning.

 

[CWC]

Wait so Egan played another 80min?

I think when Fish and co returns it’ll be -Taine/Marata/Ford/Demetric

Marata the prop/second row cover & Taine backline/spine cover. Afoa/Ale/Laban/TSS/EIT depth

 

[run_it_str8_again]

Our for and against record compared with the other top sides is abysmal. Our position on the ladder is also enhanced by having taken the bye over other teams who haven't. (eg Raiders, Broncos and Sharks) Really, I don't see the point of awarding two points for the bye. It would be far better not to award any points at all as teams are given equal number of byes throughout the year.

We haven't clicked fully to reach the fourty point mark over another team yet. I was hopeful the knights would be our day.

 

[Wrighty]

I watched some of the second half again. Gagai absoiutely clean skinned Leiataua on the Knights first try.
However Ali L learned from it and there was a play later in the match where Gagai attempted it again and Ali improved his lateral edge defence and moved sideways quicker to shut him down. So a our young blokes are learning from game to game and improving.

 

[RiceOwl]

Great for the boys to notch up another W! I was nervous before this one, thinking it may be the dreaded banana skin game, but this side certainly has a great level of resilience to go with the tight camaraderie that the coaching staff have built. I have to give Webby, Stacey, Agar and Cappy their dues for that. To be 5-2 from 7 is a fantastic start and one I didn’t see coming, and even more so once we began losing key troops in DWZ, RTS, and JFH in season, and with the departures or retirements of Tohu, Walker and SJ.

On the game, I’d like to go back and look at a replay but my initial impressions were :
- Metcalf had his best game at 7. I noticed he straightened up to help pull in the D line for one of Fords tries. His support play is also a fantastic feature of his game that can’t be underestimated.
- Clark is not only the buy of the season but could be our player of the year if his form carries on. Has been immense.
- Ford. Hats off to him for his 2 pies. For him to grind out multiple games of over 100m in the middle is a real testament to him and I am beginning to see more now as to why Webby backs him.

Even with all the positives of the above and relishing the fact we are sitting 3rd after 8 rounds, I am still tempering my expectations for us. Reason being is our PD being as poor as it is will mean if we drop a game or two we will plummet quickly. A teams PD is generally a strong indicator of where they are truly at, so unless we get a big win over the next few rounds I certainly won’t be getting carried away. If we pump the Cows or Drags (entirely possible) my expectations will begin to rise then.

Either way, I will celebrate another W!

 

[run_it_str8_again]

With the willingness to include our young blokes it has created a forward surplus. That's a bloody luxury that we could win without Fish and able to leave out this one or that. Now about our outside backs. Seems Melbourne's are falling apart too.

 

[Wrighty]

With all due props to Barnett and Clark

Our best player in 2025 has been Egan. In vintage career best form. Had Robson not also been in good nick Wayde would be pushing for SOO.

 

[Canonball]

I watched some of the second half again. Gagai absoiutely clean skinned Leiataua on the Knights first try.
However Ali L learned from it and there was a play later in the match where Gagai attempted it again and Ali improved his lateral edge defence and moved sideways quicker to shut him down. So a our young blokes are learning from game to game and improving.

That was a very bad miss, but I kinda forgive him, Gagai has been doing that to everyone for almost a decade, something about him even as an old man - I'm now back in the camp that wants Ali on the right and Pompey on the left, Berry prob needs more reps at cup